Feb. 26, 2025

CULLMAN, Ala. — Lander University’s Anderson Jones worked a run-and-gun strategy to perfection on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Anchoring his bag with a 5 1/4-pound spotted bass, the senior from Greenville, S.C., collected a five-bass limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. Jones holds a 1-8 advantage over McKendree University’s Ethan Fields and the Auburn University team of Brendin Simich and Benjamin Travis, who are tied for second with 15-2.

“It was a great day,” Jones said. “I didn’t get many bites, but when I did, they were the right ones. That is all that matters.”

The field of 250 college teams enjoyed warm and breezy conditions on Day 1 of the two-day derby and made the most of it. With the high temperature reaching 77 degrees, 151 limits and over 2,148 pounds of bass hit the scales. Cooler conditions are expected on Day 2, with highs only expected to reach the mid-60s.

While Smith Lake is much deeper than the blueback herring lakes in South Carolina like Lake Hartwell, Jones has employed a similar strategy so far this week. Using four different baits so far, he has found spotted bass staging in shallow pockets off the main river channel. The majority of his bites came between 3 and 8 feet of water.

By the end of the day, Jones estimated he fished 30 different areas with varying degrees of water clarity. In the cleaner water, he found the spotted bass were targeting shad, while in the dirtier water finding good cover was more important.

“I had to fish a lot of new water today,” he said. “A lot of new docks and a lot of new rock. Herring fishing is so spot-oriented. You have to do milk runs throughout the lake.”

Jones started the day strong, landing 14 pounds by 10 a.m., including the big spotted bass that anchored his bag. That bass came from 3 feet of water, and initially Jones thought it might be a striper.

“I (quickly) realized it was a bass and knew it was a good one,” Jones said. “Seeing it come up to the surface, stuff started to get real right there. I got that one in the boat and then caught a couple more to get to a solid place.”

From there, Jones was able to make some small culls before landing a 3-pounder with 20 minutes left to go in his fishing day.

After practice, Jones wasn’t sure he could even reach the 14-pound mark, so he is not sure what to expect on Day 2, either. He is hoping his milk run will continue to pay off with better-than-average bass.

Tyler Chmelar and Dalton Head from Tarleton State University anchored their 15-1 Day 1 bag with a 5-9 spotted bass, which currently leads the Big Bass of the Tournament race.

The full field will launch from Smith Lake Park in Cullman beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m. The Top 10 percent of the field will punch their ticket to the College Series National Championship, details of which will be announced at a later date. Teams also earned points towards the Legends Trail points race.

Visit Cullman is hosting the tournament.

 

2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

 

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.